Just after the turn of the century, (the Twentieth Century) my grandfather, Rev. Bud Hamilton, was holding revivals in churches along the North Carolina - Tennessee state line. While preaching in one of those churches, he was informed there was a "Moonshiner " nearby who was threatening his life. (Pa was putting a dent in his business). My grandfather (Pa) asked for directions to the man's place and rode out to visit him. People had warned him that his life was in danger, but he had a Higher Calling.
When Pa rode up into the man's yard, he and his two sons were on the porch. Pa spoke to them and started to step down from his horse. The moonshiner spoke, "Don't git down, Preacher. You jes turn rat aroun and go back wherever you come from." Well, Pa was a stubborn old mountain man, who only feared God, so he prepared to dismount. "I done tole you, Preacher," the man hollered. "If you git off `at horse, I'll shoot che," and he reached for a double barreled, "mule-eared" shotgun.
Pa said, "Mister, I rode out here to pray for you and I ain't leaving `till I do." The warning came again. "I done tole you, when your feet tech the groun, you gonna be a dead man." Pa was on a mission and he would complete it or die trying. As he swung his leg over, the moonshiner pulled back both hammers on the shotgun. Just then, the older of his sons spoke up, "Daddy, please don't shoot `im! Jess let `im pray and he gonna leave!" The father looked at his son and said, "OK, Preacher, git it over with!"
Pa stepped down, knelt down beside his horse, and started to pray. Now Pa knew how to talk to God. He knew God is patient, so he prayed long. He also knew God is not nervous, so he prayed loud. He had a passion for sinners, so he prayed with passion. While he was praying, he heard the man starting to sob and when he had finished praying, the man was on his knees begging God to forgive him. My grandfather led a moonshiner and his sons to the Lord that day.
Pa was invited to supper and after supper, all of them, along with the man's wife who was already a Christian, went to the church for the evening service. While riding to church, Pa started singing, "Bringing in the Sheaves." The people gathered at the church saw them coming and all of them started to sing. That revival may have never changed the world, but it sure changed one little mountain community.
My prayer is that God will give our motorcycle ministry the burden, the courage and the passion for souls my grandfather had! We ride horses of iron, but we carry the same message, and we serve the same God! See ya on the road!
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